Once I saw a pony-carriage, with an aged, semi-military driver, pull up
at the door, and the flutter of a veil as the vehicle passed through
the entrance; and this was the only glimpse I ever caught of the little
lady that dingy office called mistress. There was, however, a certain
briskness in the movement of the clerks, and a glow of pleasure on their
faces, that always denoted a visit; and very frequent those visits were.
Without in any way obstructing it, her pretty interest seemed to throw a
halo around the dull routine of trade; and, if there was any
unpleasantness, the arrival of Jean Palliot, coachman and ex-grenadier,
with Madame Althie Pontalba, was sure to drive it away.

Why _will_ my heart, like a hungry thing, gloat on the happiness of
others? He has gone away--in the midst of the holidays--no one knows
whither; and his sweet wife and pleasant home are as dreary as I. There
is a mystery about this house which I have not yet unraveled. Marcel
left in the morning, and M. Pontalba in the evening. That has been two
weeks ago. I thought he would have fainted when I told him of the
_garçon's_ exodus. I attempted a history of the gardening; but he would
not listen to a word, and remained locked up in his private room during
the entire day. Late in the evening a stranger called, and insisted on
an interview. It resulted in a hasty consultation with the cashier, and
an order for a coach. The two went off together,--whither, or for how
long, no one knows.


Leaf the Fourth.

To-day finds a man in the full glow of health, and strength, and
happiness; to-morrow comes death, cold, pitiless, irresistible; mocking
all hope, freezing desire, crushing all effort with the eternal law of